Hurricane Shutters in Doral, FL

Hurricane shutters cover an existing window or door so debris hits the shutter instead of the glass. They are the lower-cost way to protect a Doral home, especially when the windows themselves are still in good shape, or when the budget does not stretch to impact glass on every opening. In Miami-Dade, shutters must carry approval for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and they are tested against the same large and small missile impacts as impact windows.

The trade-off

Shutters only protect when they are closed. Panels must be carried out, lined up and fastened before each storm, and accordions must be pulled shut and locked. That takes time and, for upper-floor openings, a ladder. Many owners use shutters on some openings and impact glass on others, putting shutters on rarely used rooms and impact windows where daily light and ease matter most. For insurance credit, the inspector looks at whether every opening is protected, by any approved method.

Spacing from the glass

A shutter flexes when it is hit and under wind pressure. Its approval lists the minimum distance it must sit from the glass so that, when it bends, it does not touch the window behind it. We set tracks and anchors to keep that clearance, which is something a homeowner hanging panels on old studs often cannot confirm.

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Condos and townhomes

For condo units and townhomes, associations often set which shutter types and colors are allowed, and some require that shutters be closed when an owner is away during storm season. Florida law requires associations to adopt written hurricane protection specifications. We build the quote from those specifications.

Storage and upkeep

Panels need a dry place to stack, usually a garage wall, and should be labeled by opening so they go up quickly. Accordion tracks need rinsing and a dry lubricant once or twice a year so they slide freely when needed. Fasteners and anchors left in the wall should be checked for corrosion before the season starts in June.

Roll-down shutters, manual or motorized, are covered on their own page because their pricing and install work are different.